If you are looking for new ways for your toddler to have fun and learn how to to develop their balance skills, then look into balance bikes. They also go by the names glide bikes or pedal-less bikes. A balance bike is also a great way for you to save money down the road, because the glide bike can take the place of a tricycle and also a bigger bike with the training wheels attached to the rear. If your child can master the balance bike, by the time they get older they can go right into a two wheeler.

Balance bikes were designed for the younger children, usually two years in age. It was designed to teach them how to keep their balance. The balance bike does not have pedals, a chain or even a crank setup. The premise of the balance bike is for the child to sit on the saddle with their feet on the ground, and for them to scoot or shimmy themselves down the road. The feeling of the ground gives the child the confidence to learn and gives them a feeling of safety knowing they are in control.

One of the advantages of the balance bike is you will get your child acclimated to riding a bike at a very early age. Overcoming the fear of balancing a bike can be an easier task at this young age because they haven’t had many failing experience to reference. The child will take small steps and at their own pace learn to advance to bigger steps, and finally to balancing all by themselves. The balance bike allows the child to learn to balance in a natural way, not with the aid of stabilizers or a parent running alongside the child down the road.

The child will learn in a playful way how to balance themselves on the bike, and in addition to the seat being so low and close to the ground, a fall will not be such a scary thing if it does happen. 

When you are going to purchase a balance bike, be certain to look for a bike that has an adjustable seat. This will allow the bike to grow as your child grows. You want to make sure when the saddle is in the lowest position, that the child can rest his feet flatly on the ground. You also want to find the models that have the restricted type handlebars. They are much safer. The wheel being restricted prevents the wheel from turning and causing a twist in the bike and a surprise fall.